Contents

Foreword

Like many others, I have been appalled by the regular reports of
more and more people in our country needing to access foodbanks in
order to get by. I know others who would rather go hungry than
suffer the indignity of going to a foodbank and, they perceive,
begging for food. I count it a privilege to know a few of them as
friends. They are not people who are careless with money. They are
people who do not have enough money in the first place.

It has been an immense privilege to chair the Independent
Working Group on Food Poverty. It has been made up of an inspiring
array of extraordinary people each, in their own way, doing their
part to end the need for foodbanks in one of the richest countries
in the world. This report is our shared work and it is not
necessarily representative of the organisations that we come from.
It is a testimony to the energy and commitment of the Group's
members that they are willing, if asked, to continue to play a
collective role in 'ending hunger together.'

Our report makes a number of recommendations relating to how the
income of people living in food insecurity can be increased, the
quality of food provision can be improved, while it is still
required, and more transformative community food models can be
established.

Running through our efforts are six core messages:

The biggest problem is having enough money to feed
yourself.

Every response must be dignified.

Involving people experiencing food insecurity is where we
will find the solution.

Everyone has the right to good quality and nutritious
food.

Food is about community and not just consumption.

Emergency food aid is not a long term solution to
hunger.

We look forward to discussing with Scottish Ministers how the
proposals laid out in this report can be implemented. More
importantly, we look forward to a time when together we will have
ended hunger in Scotland.